Warhammer 40,000
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Warhammer 40,000
Current Warhammer 40,000 logo
Manufacturer Games Workshop
Designer Rick Priestley, Andy Chambers et al.[1]
Illustrator John Blanche, Jes Goodwin et al.
Publisher Games Workshop
Years active 1987 to present
Players 2+
Age range 11+
Playing time Varies
Random chance Dice rolling
Skills required Tactical, arithmetic
Warhammer 40,000 (informally known as Warhammer 40K or simply 40K) is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop, set in a dystopian science fantasy universe. Warhammer 40,000 was created by Rick Priestley and Andy Chambers in 1987 as the futuristic companion to Warhammer Fantasy Battle, sharing many game mechanics. Expansions for Warhammer 40,000 are released from time to time which give rules for urban, planetary siege and large-scale combat. The game is currently in its fifth edition, which was published in 2008.
Players can assemble and paint individual 28 mm (1.1 in) scale miniature figures that represent futuristic soldiers, creatures and vehicles of war. These figurines are collected to compose squads in armies that can be pitted against those of other players. Each player brings a roughly equal complement of units to a tabletop battlefield with handmade or purchased terrain. The players then decide upon a scenario, ranging from simple skirmishes to complex battles involving defended objectives and reinforcements. The models are physically moved around the table and the actual distance between models plays a role in the outcome of combat. Play is turn based, with various outcomes determined by tables and the roll of dice. Battles may last anywhere from a half hour to several days, and battles may be strung together to form campaigns. Many game and hobby stores host games, and official tournaments are held on a regular basis.
Warhammer 40,000’s space fantasy setting spans a vast fictional universe set 38 millennia into the future. Its various factions and races include the Imperium of Man, a decentralized yet totalitarian interstellar empire that has ruled the vast majority of humanity for millennia, the Orks (similar to Warhammer Fantasy Orcs), and the Eldar (similar to Elves in Warhammer Fantasy Battle), among others. The background and playing rules of each faction are covered in the game’s rule books and supplemental army ‘codexes’, along with articles in the Games Workshop magazines, White Dwarf and Imperial Armour. The game’s miniatures are produced by Citadel Miniatures and Forge World.
The Warhammer 40,000 setting is used for several tabletop games, video games, and works of fiction, including licensed works published by Black Library, a subsidiary of Games Workshop.
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